Chapter 28 : Chapter 28
Chapter 28: A Marriage Alliance Between the Two Families
Afterward, Zheng Lingjun announced that the birthday banquet would officially begin.
An dazzling array of delicacies from the mountains and seas was brought up by the Zheng Clan’s attendants and laid out before the guests.
A troupe of graceful dancers, slender and elegant in form, began to dance lightly to the accompaniment of the musicians.
For a time, the entire Zheng family was steeped in an atmosphere of song, dance, and prosperity.
This birthday banquet at the Zheng family could truly be said to have left both host and guests delighted. It was not until shen hour that the guests gradually began to depart.
Li Xingge was also preparing to rise and take his leave, but unexpectedly, Zheng Lingjun called out to stop him.
With a smile, he said, “Worthy Younger Brother, wait a moment. There is still one matter I wish to discuss with you.”
Li Xingge could not help feeling somewhat puzzled, but he did not refuse.
The two of them found a stone pavilion and sat down.
Once seated, Zheng Lingjun did not beat around the bush. He went straight to the point and said, “Worthy Younger Brother, my Zheng family has a daughter. She is beautiful and gifted, with both looks and talent above the ordinary. I wish for our two families to become joined by marriage. What does Worthy Younger Brother think?”
At those words, Li Xingge’s heart jolted. He lifted his head and looked at Zheng Lingjun in astonishment.
It was as if he wanted to read something from Zheng Lingjun’s face.
Only after a long while did Li Xingge recover himself.
With a bitter smile, he shook his head and said, “I appreciate Elder Brother’s good intentions, but while my father was still alive, he already arranged a marriage for me. It was my late father’s final wish, and I dare not go against it. I hope Elder Brother will forgive me.”
Those words were not a lie Li Xingge had made up to deceive Zheng Lingjun.
His grandfather, Li Xuanfeng, had once mentioned the marriage arrangement in passing while he was still alive, but that was all. Li Xingge did not even know the woman’s surname, much less her given name or what she looked like.
But today, it had just so happened to become the perfect reason to refuse Zheng Lingjun.
A daughter of the Zheng family was of exalted status, and the great noble families of Baihe County all vied to marry one.
After all, to marry a Zheng daughter was equivalent to gaining a powerful backer.
But Li Xingge did not think much of it.
His future would never stop here.
If he married a Zheng daughter, then a hundred years later, he might still remain youthful, while the one beside his pillow might already have become a bent old woman. Would that not only add needless sorrow?
Though Li Xingge had refused him, Zheng Lingjun did not grow angry.
He had never expected it to be so easy to bind Li Xingge to the Zheng family.
In his heart, he was already utterly certain that Li Xingge was the “Child of Fortune” the Old Ancestor had spoken of.
Since he could not bind Li Xingge himself, then he would bind the Li Clan instead.
In Zheng Lingjun’s eyes, Li Xingge was someone who valued affection deeply, especially when it came to his family.
To bind the Li Clan was the same as binding Li Xingge.
So long as, in the future, Li Xingge remembered the help the Zheng family had given him while he was still weak and insignificant, then perhaps the Zheng family might truly be able to recover the glory of their ancestors.
With that thought, Zheng Lingjun smiled again and said, “Since Worthy Younger Brother is already betrothed, then it seems I have been presumptuous. However, my second younger brother also has a daughter, and she too is a direct-line daughter of my Zheng family. Why not betroth her to one of the outstanding young talents of your Li Clan, so that the brotherhood between us may be further sealed? What do you think?”
Zheng Lingjun had already put it so plainly. If Li Xingge refused again, then it would mean he was not giving either the Zheng family or Zheng Lingjun any face at all.
And the consequences of angering the Zheng family were not something he could bear.
What was more, for a direct-line daughter of the Zheng family to marry into the Li Clan, for the present Li Clan, that would unquestionably be a marriage beneath her status.
A marriage alliance between the two families would also make their relationship even closer.
Li Xingge’s mind raced wildly as he began to think through which young member of the Li Clan would be suitable for such a union.
Suddenly, one person came to mind.
The Grand Elder’s grandson, Li Xingcong, nineteen years old this year.
Li Xingcong possessed no small talent. He was already at the Perfection stage of the Body Tempering Realm, and barring accidents, he would soon break through into the Physical Body Realm.
Li Xingcong’s status and talent, when matched with a direct-line daughter of the Zheng family, could at least be considered barely suitable. It would not bring disgrace upon the Zheng family.
After thinking it through, Li Xingge informed Zheng Lingjun of Li Xingcong’s circumstances.
Zheng Lingjun was fairly satisfied with Li Xingcong’s situation.
Though he was far inferior to a monster like Li Xingge, he could still be counted among the promising young talents of a county.
And from the choice of candidate, it was also clear that Li Xingge had not been perfunctory with him.
Thus, his goal of deepening ties with Li Xingge had essentially been achieved.
“I am quite satisfied with that child, Xingcong.”
Zheng Lingjun smiled and nodded.
Hearing Zheng Lingjun say he was satisfied, Li Xingge finally let out a sigh of relief.
In the blink of an eye, the two of them settled the marriage alliance.
As for the opinions of the two people actually involved, the pair simply ignored them altogether.
“Oh, right, Worthy Younger Brother, at today’s birthday banquet, it seemed that Song Tianbo was rather dissatisfied with you.”
Hearing that, Li Xingge gave a contemptuous smile.
“He is nothing more than a clown leaping about because he saw me steal his thunder.”
“That was my oversight.”
Zheng Lingjun spoke with a trace of self-reproach.
Li Xingge quickly waved his hand. “This matter has nothing to do with Elder Brother. My Li Clan and the Song family have long had deep grievances between us. We are as fire and water. This was bound to happen sooner or later.”
“It is good enough so long as Worthy Younger Brother does not blame me. Song Tianbo is narrow-minded, and all his joys, anger, sorrows, and pleasures are written plainly across his face. He is a true petty villain.”
“If not for his passable talent, the position of Song family head would never have fallen to him. But his achievements will go no further than this.”
“The one Worthy Younger Brother truly ought to guard against is that old ghost of the Song family. That man stepped into the Minor Accomplishment stage of the Qi-Blood Realm many years ago. He is far from comparable to that half-baked fellow from the Su family. Even I am wary of him to some extent.”
Hearing Zheng Lingjun’s words, Li Xingge nodded in agreement.
A veteran Qi-Blood Realm expert truly could not be underestimated.
It seemed he still had to raise his strength as quickly as possible.
So long as his strength was great enough, then no ghosts or monsters of any kind would matter—he could break them all with force.
“Many thanks for Elder Brother’s reminder. I will certainly be careful.”
“That is good. Still, if that old ghost truly refuses to follow the rules, then my Zheng family is not made of clay either. We certainly will not stand by and do nothing.”
Those words moved even Li Xingge, who had always been accustomed to judging others with the greatest possible suspicion.
Zheng Lingjun was openly backing him, even to the extent of being willing to tear relations apart with the Song family.
Just what exactly was Zheng Lingjun after?
Though doubt filled his heart, Li Xingge could only bury it there.
“Then I must thank Elder Brother. I will remember this great favor in my heart. If Elder Brother should ever have need of me in the future, then so long as it is within my power, I will not shrink even from fire and boiling water.”
Provided you have no ulterior motives, Li Xingge added inwardly.
Those words made Zheng Lingjun positively bloom with joy. He had given so much and even lowered himself again and again—was this not the very sentence he had been waiting to hear?
If you truly rise in the future, then when you feast on meat, remember to at least let me drink a mouthful of the broth.
Zheng Lingjun laughed wildly in his heart.
Yet outwardly, his face remained calm, and he said with righteous solemnity, “Worthy Younger Brother, what are you saying? Since you call me Elder Brother, then I shall treat you as my own kin. All of this is only what I ought to do.”
The two exchanged another round of polite words.
Seeing that the sky had already grown late, Zheng Lingjun intended to have Li Xingge stay the night and leave at dawn the next day.
But Li Xingge refused on the grounds that clan affairs were too pressing.
Zheng Lingjun personally escorted Li Xingge out through the gates of the Zheng family.
After the two bid one another farewell, Zheng Lingjun watched Li Xingge’s departing back, and the smile on his face only grew deeper.
“Lingjun, your choice was not wrong. That young man is no simple figure. Even I cannot see through him.”
At some unknown moment, an aged figure had silently appeared behind Zheng Lingjun.
Hearing the movement behind him, Zheng Lingjun hurriedly turned around. The moment he saw who it was, he quickly said, “Old Ancestor, why have you come out?”
The newcomer was none other than the Zheng family’s Old Ancestor.
“It has been a long time since I have seen such an outstanding young man.”
The Zheng family’s Old Ancestor said with a smile.
“Lingjun, you have done very well in befriending Li Xingge. Perhaps the Zheng family’s long-cherished wish of returning to the Lingxu Sect will truly have to be placed upon him in the future.”
The Zheng family’s Old Ancestor spoke in a low, distant tone.
At the same time...
Li Xingge, already far away, seemed to sense something. He turned his head and gazed back in the direction of the Zheng family estate.
Murmuring to himself, he said, “Truly unfathomable.”